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Hon. Lorenzo “Erin” Reyes Tañada III, Representative of the 4th District of Quezon and as well as the Deputy Speaker of the Prosecution Team of the much followed Impeachment Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, keynoted this year’s Western Mindanao State University – College of Nursing Commencement Exercises. The ceremony was conducted at the university’s Dr. Juanito Bruno Gymnasium last April 20.

With 581 graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and 1 graduate from the Masters in Nursing program, Rep. Tañada spoke to the nurse hopefuls. He began his speech by sharing a light jest by comparing the on-going Impeachment Trial to a box office hit soap opera that is closely followed by Filipinos every day.

Moreover, being an optimistic person as he is, his message reflected his forward-looking disposition. “What does tomorrow hold for me? But maybe it’s about time to reverse the question and ask instead, what do I hold for tomorrow,” he addressed to the new graduates. “Maraming taglay ang kinabukasan para sa bawat isa sa atin. Ngunit naniniwala ako na gamit ang atin kaalaman at talento mas marami ang taglay ng bawat isa para baguhin ang kinabukasan,” Rep. Tañada made it clear that one’s
initiative will surely grasp any opportunity that comes one’s way.

“Nasa isip ang mga paraan, ngunit nasa puso ang puhuhan,” Tañada encouraged the graduates to put others above self and told them that the success of their education will not only alleviate the situation of one’s family, of the society but the status of the country as well.

“How do we begin to do this? There are so many ways; first we must be informed, in school we are taught to retain facts and figures in order to answer a question, to prove a hypothesis, to pass a test. It is essential for us to always be informed of what’s going on in government, in business, the environment and so on. And to retain whatever information is necessary for us to form an opinion,” he explained the importance of retaining information.

He continued saying, “Second, that opinion can be the catalyst towards concrete action. We form an opinion, then we form a concern, then we form a plan, then we act. But action cannot be the task of a single individual. For action to be truly effective and responsive to the problems we face in society, we need to act collectively.”

“Within that process of opinion, concern, plan and action; we have to communicate. We need to communicate with our peers, with our friends, with people we care about and urge them to do the same thing, to form an opinion and to join in an action,” he went on.

Tañada spoke to the Nursing graduates meaning his words more seriously, “Ito ang tunay na pagsasa-praktika ng terminong PEOPLE POWER, this is how to put genuine people power to work.”

He also urged the graduates to render service to the government, “This government needs you, more so, this nation needs all of you.”

Next part of the program was the recognition of the academic award recipients, Roland E. Mallarez with a general average of 1.5 lead the College of Nursing Batch 2012 as Cum Laude. Joyce Erica G. Barrameda and Honey Lane B. Patron also finished as Cum Laude. The academic awardees were bestowed medallions by Hon. Tañada himself, together with WMSU President – Dr. Milabel Enriquez-Ho.

Also present during the occasion were the College of Nursing Dean-Dr. Gloria G. Florendo; members of the Board of Regents-Hon. Charlie M. Mariano and Hon. Servando M. Evangelista; Civil Service Commission Representative-Noemi S. Kunting; and other WMSU officials. A luncheon was held after the event at Lantaka Hotel of the city. Mayor Celso L. Lobregat graced the occasion, together with the different WMSU officials and College of Nursing faculty and staff.(Ekeena O. Lim, PAO-WMSU)